55page


55page

Monument for Patriots in Jeonggwan On august 29. 1910, the end of the Daehan Empire, we were finally robbed of our country by atrocious Japan. However, the independence movement against Japan's amalgamation started at home and abroad. On March 1. 1919, 33 delegates, who gathered at Tapgol Park in Seoul, declar ed our rightness to the world that Korea is an independent country. Following the declaration of independence, peaceful independence movement was spread out like a prairie fire all over the country. Even though people who lived in Je onggwan, a small town far away from Gijang, was said to be simple hearted, they couldn't remain mere-spectators. How could they be contrary to the hero ic spirits of their ancestors and the spirits of Mt. Maenam and Mt. Soteum! how could they seek only their own well-being! Here are those who led the indepe ndence movement held at Jwacheon Fair on April 9. 1919. Five patriots of Jeonggwan had secret meetings continuously under the suppor t of Jongbok Kim, who had worked for the public good of the town. Before ta king the action, they performed their ablutions and climbed Mt. Joryong locate d in Yongsuri with tens of people in town. They decided to devote their lives for the independence of our country praying to heaven. The acting place was decided to be Jwacheon Fair in Jangan, where many people used to gather. In the morning of Jwacheon Fair, five patriots from Jeonggwan were waiting f or a chance among the people gathered there. Around at noon they took out Korean national flags and shouted "Hurrah for the independence of Korea". Gradually the crowd came to be almost 600. It looked like a large wave of w rath. Even though Japanese police tried to put down the demonstration with ri fles and swords, they couldn't succeed to stop shouting. However, in the mid dle of the demonstration, 50 people were taken to the police station. On the way back to Jeonggwan from Jwacheon, they were still shouting out t he independence of Korea. It seemed that all the mountains and rivers also jo ined them and came to have hoarse throats. Afterwards Japanese police track ed down and arrested all the patriots concerned. Three of them had long pris on lives, two of them died early because of harsh torture after they were rel eased from prison. One of them suffered from a severe illness all through the rest of his life. Two of them had to hide themselves all through their life. Jeonggwan has been a well-known town not only for its diligence and generos ity but also its loyalty. Our town produced three patriots and one martyr durin g Korean-Japanese War from 1592 to 1598. Under the influence of this ethos, all the people here were willingly to devote their lives in order to defend our nation and town through national liberation in 1945 and Korean Civil War in 1950. We strongly believe that it is purely due to our ancestors' virtue for our plac e to be developed into a prosperous new town. It is our sacred duty to make our town the best place to live in. Here we construct this monument to praise their patriotism and hope that their sacred devotion to our country and our ho metown should be our everlasting guide for the future. December, 2012 Committee of Monument Construction for Patriots in Jeonggwan